Phoneless and Free
The other day my phone just gave out. Yes, the glorious, indestructible iPhone died. I had charged it and when I took it off the charger it asked for a Sim Card, started to drain really quickly, got extremely hot and died. I guess you didn’t need the detail, but basically, my phone has been dead and I’ve worked long hours the past few days, so I’ve had no opportunity to fix my phone or get a new one.
Being cell phone free has been exactly what that says, “FREE.” As most people know, an iPhone is not just a phone, it’s a toy, it’s Facebook, it’s Twitter, it’s texting, it’s email, it’s easy access to being self-absorbed and not appreciating the people you’re with or the environment you’re in.
Before my phone even died, Michael and I had made a rule early in the relationship, “No phones during meals.” And then one day, I don’t know why, but Michael had taken me to a fancy dinner at Club Noma, when it still existed, and I was in charge of some event (obviously, so important since I don’t remember what it was, but apparently it was “worth” ruining out nice night out and breaking our rule) but I was making phone calls, sending emails, and texting people constantly because the job ‘needed to get done.” And in hindsight, the two hours that I could have spent distraction free with the love of my life really wouldn’t have delayed things much. …And our rule would have gone unbroken, but because of that dinner, until recently, Michael and my meals were full of “this email/game/text/call is more important that you and the time we are spending together right now,” which of course was never our intention, but something that just happened as we get busier and busier in our professional lives. We have, yet again, established the no phone at meals rule.
A great thing I learned from my colleague as she was training me to take over her job was, “Nothing is life and death here, you don’t always have to take it so seriously, so when you feel stressed out, just breathe.” A very wise woman for her “ripened” age of 30. But, unless we are doctors or something of the sort, normally, things aren’t life and death. Yes, sometimes, things are worth a big deal of money, but though it may not make a client happy, sometimes I feel like reteaching people that patience is a virture.
Sometimes, even I need to learn patience is a virtue. I learned that with our no phone rule at meals that I have to hand my phone to Michael so I don’t see any incoming emails, calls, or texts, because with my OCD I will want to check it so that I don’t have any notifications on my phone, anymore. But again, is a text from my best friend saying that she found a new vintage Disney store worth interrupting a nice lunch with my beau? Eh…just kidding! No, she can really wait the half hour for me to respond.
Although I think that even the hour or so for meals is freeing to be away from the phone, these last few days have truly been wonderful. At work, I am able to focus on the random tasks I am doing around the building rather than getting distracted by an email sent from my boss that I feel I need to respond to immediately. He (as in my boss) actually gave me some insight from an HR class he took that taught him to categorize emails and organize them into folders categorizing their importance, as well as when the email really needs a reply by or if it’s better to do a follow-up call, etc.
In addition to distraction free tasks at work, I’ve been able to enjoy the good ol’ outdoors, again. We’ve had a real mild winter this year in the Bend *knocks on wood* and so the weather has been gorgeous the last few days (Yes, Californians, I know 28 doesn’t sound pleasant to you, but it’s actually really nice…especially when we are blessed with the sun, too! I got off work a little earlier than usual on Friday and it was a sunny day, so Michael and Twix picked me up and we got to walk around campus and Twix got his socialization he needs since Toto Mike is off in Rome. (A side story: Toto Mike stayed in Michael’s apartment for over a week before he left for Rome and Twix was so excited to have his “Tito Toto” around that he would always knock open Toto Mike’s door every day to greet him good morning. When Toto Mike left, Twix was missing him a lot and would just curl up on Toto Mike’s bed waiting for him to come back for a few days.) I’m not saying that we just walked around campus because I didn’t have my phone, but because I wasn’t focused on texting or playing a game on my phone, I realized how beautiful it was outside and that Twix would love to play in the snow, and puddles, and mud…oh, this weather.
I’m not saying to get rid of phones! Not at all. It has been difficult not being able to communicate with my family and Susan easily, but it also has been a nice distraction free time the last few days. So, every once in a while, I encourage you to “forget” your phone at home for a day and deal with using a computer or landline to communicate with someone and get your information and then stay up and active. There is a beauty in technology, like letting me see my 89 year old Lola who is on the other side of the world…but there is also the curse of being so tied down and dependent on technology…don’t become dependent, stay free.
–Kree
2 Comments
This was a very nicely written post. It makes me realize that I too fall into the trap of letting technology sweep me up.It’s true that sometimes during dinner, we would be distracted by our phones when things could just wait for a couple of hours. This has made me want to change the way I approach things and spend more quality time with you whenever I can instead of being glued to my phone!
yo, girl! great revelation! nicely written:) love ya…and btw i miss your call hahaha!